Hi! My name is Dara, and this is my first attempt at fan fiction. I hope you like
it. I have made a few alterations in the Sailor Moon universe in order to make my
story fit, the most significant one being the change in the time line. Chibi-Usa is
from the 25th century, and the first couple of chapters of my story occur in what
would have been the 30th century, in my universe known as the Amber Star. E-
mail me at hevenshine@hotmail.com with your questions, comments and flames.
Just keep in mind that not much is going to be answered--yet. Yes, this fanfic
doesn't have a title at the moment. I can't think of one that fits the story. As you
all know, Sailor Moon is not mine; I'm just borrowing her for a little bit from
Takeuchi Naoko-san. And Bandai, and DiC, and whoever else has a prior claim
to the warrior of love and justice. However, everyone else herein is mine. If
you've read this far, then I'm thoroughly amazed. = - D Well, on with the fanfic!
Destiny's Path
Prologue--Morning on Terrabeta
"If it pleases Your Serene Majesty, the Exalted Lady Masago, Honored Prophet
and Highly Esteemed Guardian of the Time Gate, humbly seeks your audience."
The dark-haired woman, who waited in the antechamber, sighed. Even through
the obstruction of stone and wood, she heard this proclamation, and inwardly she
winced. She wished the boy would speak normally, and discard the ridiculous
titles. After all, many people did not think she was "highly esteemed," let alone
"exalted." In fact, most detested her for not averting the war. 'If they only knew
. . .' Shaking her head, she let go of the tenuous thread of thought and prepared
herself for what was to come. The woman could hear voices, low-pitched and
indistinct, coming from the other side of the wall. She did not need to hear the
queen's response to know the answer; Serenity, the sovereign of the Amber Star,
had been expecting her. The solid oak doors swung open, then, the unoiled
hinges softly whining. A young man, wearing the livery of a herald, stepped
through. Bowing smartly to her, he murmured, "Her Glory will receive you now,
Milady."
Masago smiled at the youth and rose from the upholstered couch, absently
smoothing her long robes before retrieving her ornate staff. "Thank you," she
replied graciously, and crossed the threshold into the Great Hall, noting
detachedly that the doors had been shut behind her. Walking down the aisle to
the woman on the throne (who was unattended), she discreetly glanced around the
rectangular-shaped chamber. There was, at the moment, little to recommend the
room, with its unadorned bleach stone walls, plain glass windows, cracked white
and green-veined marble floor, and sparse furnishings. Earlier she had puzzled
over Serenity's choice of setting for their conference, but now she understood.
When Masago had first approached her, it had been as one friend to another, in
the comfort of her private chambers. Serenity was not the Queen, only a woman,
and a mother. A mother with a child whose life would be risked to--literally--
save a galaxy. Doubtless Serenity had been taken aback at her request, and had
chosen to assert her rank to feel less vulnerable regarding this sensitive issue.
The stark surroundings were meant to reinforce the nature of the discussion, and
their relationship in regard to it.
As she came within a respectful distance of the throne, Masago bowed and said
politely, "Benevolent tidings this fine morning, my Queen."
"Thank you, my Lady Prophet," the Monarch replied, her mouth curving. The
smile did not reach her eyes. Not that she blamed her. "I trust the dawn has
found you well?"
The older woman nodded. "Yes, Your Eminence," she said, with no mocking.
She made a grand gesture that encompassed the chamber, and added in the same
tone, "This is the best it has looked in years."
"Indeed," Serenity concurred, a touch of irony coloring the word. "The
Seneschal and I finally cleared away the last of the debris yesterday, and scoured
the floor. My back is killing me!" she exclaimed, with a slight grimace, although
her eyes were lit with satisfaction. The Queen had been adamant about everyone-
-servant and highborn alike--helping with the restoration of the palace, and
Serenity had done more than her share: bending over tarnished light fixtures,
meticulously scrubbing floors and tubs, plastering walls and mending curtains.
As she had jokingly said one night, she could have been an artisan of all trades if
she had not been crowned.
Today, however, she looked every bit the Monarch she was. Sitting up straight on
her throne, pride and intelligence radiating from her like a beacon, she was an
accomplished beauty. Her long, elegant frame was swathed in an ivory silk gown,
the high waist and rounded neckline accentuating her bosom. Gold lace trimmed
the puffed sleeves, neckline, and hem of the ankle-length skirt. Matching long-
sleeved gloves concealed her work-raw hands and scarred arms. Her long hair
was left loose, flowing down her back and over her shoulders, the gold circlet of
royalty sweeping across her wide brow. Artfully applied cosmetics disguised her
weariness and highlighted her bold mouth, sloping cheekbones, and golden-
brown eyes.
Masago studied her as they continued to make pleasantries, knowing that Serenity
was stalling. Unfortunately, time was of the essence to her, and so with a deep
breath and a silent prayer, she interrupted her friend by clearing her throat.
Serenity immediately gave up the pretense of mindless chatter and said without
preamble, "Prophet, are you certain that this is the only course of action
possible?"
The familiarity of this conversation impinged on her consciousness. 'God, how
many times have I had this discussion with you?' she wondered. Aloud, she
affirmed, "Hai, Majesty. I would never risk your daughter otherwise."
"Granted," the Queen agreed readily, "but why can it not be--"
"One of the other Senshi, my Liege?" Masago concluded.
"Well . . . yes. How is it, Milady, that you always know what I will say?"
Serenity asked curiously.
"Because you have always said it," was the enigmatic reply.
Serenity stared at her quite blankly. "Come again?" she asked, then waved her
hand in dismissal. "Oh, never mind." There were more important issues at hand.
"Are you going to answer my former question?"
"Of course. The princess is the key."
The Queen waited for Masago to elaborate, and when she didn't, Serenity gently
prompted, "And?" Her friend remained mute. Her body conveyed no emotion.
Her face was expressionless. And her lavender eyes revealed . . . "Nothing. You
have told me absolutely nothing." She sighed in frustration, knowing it was
useless to try to pry information from the Prophet. When the older woman still
gave no reply, Serenity mentally shrugged and said aloud, "I trust you have your
reasons, then." Displeasure flavored her words.
"Always," the other assured her. She lapsed into silence once more, then said,
"Do you not rememb--"
The Queen, who intuitively knew the other woman's line of thought, frowned
slightly at her. "No, I don't. We have been through this before, I believe."
"Hai," was the soft reply, "we have." She hoped the relief she felt did not
manifest in her face or voice.
However, Serenity was not finished. She continued, slowly, almost reluctantly.
"My memories as a child are confused. I couldn't tell you what my favorite toy
was, or who my best friends were." Masago winced slightly at this declaration,
but Serenity did not notice, absorbed in her thoughts. "Sometimes . . . I'll see
them. Like the way her hair looked in the sunlight, golden and shiny, and his
crooked smiles when he pretended nothing was bothering him. I can even see the
others, although vaguely. I remember their wit and grace and . . . strength. They
were so strong. So beautiful." Childlike wonder filled her voice.
"Yes, they were," the Prophet agreed, sadness coloring her voice. How she
missed them so! And they were gone . . . abandoning the gloomy reverie, Masago
concentrated on the matters at hand. "I also remember receiving this pendant,"
Serenity was saying. The older woman went still, forcing herself not to
physically react to this information. "Oh?" she said, hoping it sounded casual.
'What else do you remember, Serenity?' she wondered wildly.
"The memory came to me recently," the Queen explained, fingering the raw
chunk of jade, roughly cut into a teardrop, mounted in gold that dangled on a
chain around her throat. "A young woman with black hair and gold eyes gave it
to me. It was the first time I ever saw someone else with eyes like mine."
"That description matches Alandra."
"Perhaps," Serenity said, meditatively, as she studied the gemstone. Abruptly,
she looked up, speculation darkening her gold eyes. "But since your proposal two
weeks ago regarding this journey, I have thought of little else. I might have
fabricated the memory to justify her going."
Shocked, Masago exclaimed, "That's not true, Serenity!"
The Queen blinked in astonishment. "Why are you so adamant, Masago?" she
asked.
'Shall I tell you, Serenity? You would be proud of her, your Alandra. And yet, I
fear you would not understand my actions . . . ' "Forgive me, I cannot answer any
of your questions," the Prophet said quietly, holding her hands out, palms up, in
entreaty. "Please, I beg you, have faith." Masago then kneeled before her startled
Queen, bowing her head low to hide the tears that threatened to spill. 'Discretion
is necessary,' she thought fiercely. 'That may be true, but you are practicing
deceit,' whispered a nasty little voice. 'Omission is a euphemism for lying!' She
shoved the thought away. This wasn't the time for doubt. A gloved hand stroked
Masago's dark green hair, and she held herself from a flinch. 'Lies get you in the
end . . . '
Serenity murmured, "Rise, my dear." When the Prophet was standing once more,
her eyes suspiciously bright, the queen said, gently, "I have never had any
compunctions about placing my faith in you." 'You should.' "It is not you I am
worried about; it is the General," she said, her voice trembling with controlled
emotion.
The General. A monster in a man's body. The sadistic, soulless tyrant who,
almost five centuries ago, annihilated the Crystal Earth Kingdom. Nothing
remained of the Milky Way Interplanetary Alliance; the planets and their people
were summarily conquered and destroyed with an icy ruthlessness that nauseated
Masago to even think about. She survived the massacre, because she had been in
the Time Stream. If she had not . . . well, it was better for her peace of mind not
to dwell on events she could not alter, although God knew she had tried often
enough. She had gone back four times to the Crystal Tokyo court, trying and
failing to convince the golden-haired monarch and her husband of the danger that
awaited. Each time her "predictions" were dismissed, and Serenity and
Endymion told her she was being paranoid, that she had seen too many battles . . .
It hurt to know she could not save them.
The same could not be said for the impending mission. Alandra was destined to
go to the past; she had always been part of the past. Moreover, she was destined
to succeed. 'But at a price.' Masago firmly believed the ends justified the
means, and she intended to execute her plan with the princess as her willing
pawn. 'Perhaps willing is not the right word,' she mused, remembering Alandra's
initial reaction. 'She will make a fine ruler . . . ' Masago was brought back to the
present, then, reminded that the current Monarch was patiently waiting for her
answer. She cleared her throat. "I understand your concern, Serenity, and I swear
to you, Alandra will be safe--" she began, telling a half-truth.
"Inasmuch as anyone can be safe," the Queen interrupted, regarding the other
woman intently. For as long as she had known Masago, the woman remained a
mystery to her. The Prophet was quiet, and guarded, and rarely seen because of
her duty as the Keeper of Time. She was also taken in earnest when she left the
Time Gate. Serenity knew all too well what happened when Masago's warnings
went unheeded. But this was Serenity's daughter and heir they were talking about,
damn it. Alandra was a capable young woman, granted, but it was madness to
send her after the General! She was not even Gifted like the other Senshi. Her
"powers" were dependent upon the Star Jewel and Heaven Wand, and when said
sources were drained, her child was all but defenseless. If it hadn't been for her
cool head and the aid of her guardians, Alandra could have died many times over
during battle.
When the nightmare of war had ended four months ago, the Queen had thanked
every deity she knew of for keeping her beautiful child safe. She had believed the
worst to be over. But it wasn't. Her idyll was shattered by an unexpected visit
from Masago and her frightening prophesies of what she termed as "galaxicide."
And their only salvation, she said, rested on Alandra's strong young shoulders.
Serenity had wanted to say no; she was still tempted to. She was scared for her
daughter, and loathed the idea of deliberately placing her in harm's way. At the
same time, she could see no other alternative. Masago--no, the Prophet--made it
clear that Alandra was the only one suited to the task. And if she had to choose
between her daughter and the Amber Star kingdom . . . the lives of many mattered
more than the life of one. Even if the one happened to be a princess. 'I have no
choice,' she thought despairingly, a cold lump forming in her belly. She rose
from the throne, her decision made. In a firm, low-pitched voice, Serenity said,
"Have a page summon my daughter. We will continue this in the Summer
Room." The Queen was in desperate need of more pleasant surroundings.
The dark-haired woman knew dismissal when she heard it. "Hai. Majesty . . . "
"Masago?"
"I am sorry." She was not certain what exactly she was apologizing for; she only
knew it needed to be said.
"Don't be." After all, Alandra was still alive.
How do you like it so far? Let me know at hevenshine@hotmail.com!